White Sox blow three-run lead to Twins, find another way to lose

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MINNEAPOLIS — The White Sox found another way to lose.

This time, the bullpen gave one away in a 6-5 walk-off downer against the Twins.

Michael Kopech served up a two-run homer in the eighth inning to Trevor Larnach, and Steven Wilson gave up two runs in the ninth, the first on Byron Buxton’s first homer and the winner on Alex Kirilloff’s two-out single.

“I mean, gotta get the job done there in the ninth,” Wilson said. “Obviously, fastball to Buxton, two in a row, probably not the best idea thinking back to it.”

The Sox suffered their fifth consecutive loss and 11th in the last 12 games to plummet to 3-20.

“It’s not been easy,” said Eloy Jimenez, whose three-run homer against Pablo Lopez snapped a 20-inning scoreless streak and built a 3-1 lead in the fourth. “You don’t want a loss every time you go outside.”

Right-hander Erick Fedde, who allowed three hits and struck out a career-high 11 in six innings to lower his ERA to 2.73, left with a 3-1 lead. After the Twins (9-13) got within 3-2 with a run against Jordan Leasure in the seventh, Andrew Benintendi drove in two with a two-out single to make it 5-2.

But Kopech allowed a two-run homer to Trevor Larnach in the eighth, a down and in fastball in Larnach’s “honey hole” as described by catcher Martin Maldonado and manager Pedro Grifol.

In the ninth, Wilson walked Carlos Santana with one out before Ryan Jeffers’ half-swing bloop double dropped near the left-field line in front of Benintendi, who appeared to get a slow read on it.

“That catch was a 20% probability catch,” manager Grifol said. “We’re playing no-doubles, way back there. Would have been a helluva catch had he made it.”

The Sox are 0-5 on a road trip that started with a sweep in Philadelphia.

“Every guy in this clubhouse they want to do the best that they can do on a daily basis to win games,” said Maldonado, who went 0-for-4 to drop his average to .048. “When you have the lead like that with two big boys coming in, I think it’s even tougher.”

It was the Sox’ fifth loss after they had the lead in the seventh inning or later.

Keller, Clevinger getting closer

Right-hander Chris Flexen, who made two relief appearances after getting bumped out of the rotation with the promotions of Nick Nastrini and Jonathan Cannon, will start Friday when the Sox open a home series against the Rays.

Right-hander Brad Keller, who allowed two runs and struck out seven and walked one in 5⅔ innings for Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, could make his next appearance in the upcoming home stand.

Mike Clevinger will make his first appearance for Charlotte this week after signing as a free agent April 4 and ramping up in Arizona.

Jonathan Cannon will likely stay in the rotation for at least another start.
 

Kopech, likes the moment

Kopech looks like a closer with his 99-100 mph velocity and is saying he thrives on the moment. He has been dominant at times but add Larnach’s eighth-inning homer to Salvador Perez’ homer last Wednesday to learning moments in his new role.

“I want to challenge him, for him to be challenged,” Grifol said, “and it would be great for us to have a call [to the bullpen] with a lead in the ninth.”

Grifol called Kopech, who has a 4.38 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings over seven, “one of the better guys in the game back there.”

“He comes in 98-102 in the strike zone, I want him in there at all times.”

Had Kopech's eighth inning been clean, Grifol said he would have pitched the ninth as well.

This and that

Jimenez was briefly checked by a trainer at first base when a splinter from his broken bat single in the sixth inning struck him near his eye.

• Lenyn Sosa, demoted to Charlotte Monday after struggling with the Sox, hit two homers, doubled and singled for Charlotte Tuesday night.